Why we do what we do...

We do so many things that seem to be on auto pilot – I’ve even driven the wrong way going somewhere because I was just doing the normal route and completely forgot I was driving the opposite way that I wanted to go!

Get moving and keep moving!

Sometimes it’s hard to get moving on something... the hardest bit is getting started but then once things are going then it’s easy to keep moving. It’s like pushing a massive rock down a hill, to start with it’s hard to get any motion at all, but after pushing for a while the rock starts to move and once it starts rolling down it picks up its own speed... the only issue is that the momentum from the hill won’t last forever. It’ll need some energy to push it again if you want it to keep on moving.

Wanting more...

We often find ourselves drawn to wanting more of the newest things – the latest and best product or clothes, cars or even homes! When we become driven by these desires we end up never being fully satisfied with what we have, there’s always something newer just coming out...

Seeking more...

What an amazing weekend we had – celebrating the foundation of our faith! Jesus’ death and glorious resurrection, he paid the debt he didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay! We praise God for the new life we now have in him... and because we love him we want to seek more.

The King is coming!

This week we’re leading up to Easter and thinking about the preparations for the Easter weekend, the Impact and Encounter event on Good Friday is shaping up inc an Easter Egg hunt, testimonies, videos and worship. In preparation we’re getting lots of things ready, just like the Palm Sunday celebration which was the lead up and preparation for Jesus’ crucifixion and death before the amazing resurrection.

Remembering...

This was a great weekend for remembering – our mums on Mothering Sunday and also the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us - we had a combined meeting of Focus 1&2, Impact and Encounter all about the sacrifice.

We had a great time worshipping, playing some games and praying together. Thinking about what it means for us that Jesus stepped in and took our place on the cross. We nailed our sins to a cross as a symbol of recognition – it was a powerful morning.

DON'T STOP!

What makes us stop talking about Jesus? Fear, failure, embarrassment, busyness, shyness...? We all get that feeling of not wanting to speak up in case we say the wrong thing or end up looking like an idiot! We were challenged on Sunday night to always look for opportunities to speak about God’s glory, actions, sovereignty and salvation... not to stop when we worry but to do this day after day!

IT'S THE WEEKEND!

 It's almost the weekend again - what will you be doing? This Sunday Impact and Encounter are meeting as usual with a chance to go deeper with God and each other.

This week it's also Deeper Impact on Friday night for all Impact members (£2.50 on the door - 5.30-7.30pm)... then there's the half night of prayer so you could come and stay on for that too.

Please join us in Prayer

This weekend is the Open Doors SHOCKWAVE prayer meeting - all over the country people are joining together to pray for the persecuted church.

Here at St Paul's the Encounter group are leading this prayer meeting after the evening service in the Church Centre - 8pm - 9.30pm... We are so privileged to have the freedom to pray without fear of arrest, how about we use it this weekend and join together as a whole church family to pray for our other brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are imprisoned, beaten or persecuted for following Jesus.

We're back! God is good...

The Encounter weekend was amazing! God challenged us and blessed us so much through many ways over time away.